The Best Value Illinois Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Illinois for 2023

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in Illinois based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2023 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking but additionally factors in the typical price paid by students to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2023 as the overall best value college in Illinois is Northwestern University. The highest value public state college is University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


41 results

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Illinois

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $28,344net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Value in Illinois

  • 18,832enrollment
  • $36,584net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Value in Illinois

  • 56,607enrollment
  • $13,517net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

University of Illinois at Springfield
I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,944enrollment
  • $11,628net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 990-1250SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

University of Illinois at Chicago
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Value in Illinois

  • 34,199enrollment
  • $12,614net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Illinois Institute of Technology
I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Value in Illinois

  • 6,486enrollment
  • $28,161net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Knox College
K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,156enrollment
  • $23,266net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Elmhurst College
E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,518enrollment
  • $21,776net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1013-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Dominican University
D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,066enrollment
  • $18,685net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 910-1160SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

Judson University
J
Elgin, IL

Judson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,173enrollment
  • $16,039net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 17-27ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $26,968net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Millikin University
M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,906enrollment
  • $19,948net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

University of St Francis
S
Joliet, IL

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,426enrollment
  • $16,761net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 920-1170SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Northern Illinois University
N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Value in Illinois

  • 16,234enrollment
  • $14,397net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Value in Illinois

  • 11,266enrollment
  • $15,638net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Wheaton College
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,047enrollment
  • $27,474net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Bradley University
B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Value in Illinois

  • 5,588enrollment
  • $25,850net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1280SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,653enrollment
  • $32,545net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA